Menomonie School Board to discuss snow day make up plan

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA NOTICE OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER 215 PINE AVENUE E, WISCONSIN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023, 5:45 P.M.
This meeting will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq2Z68-Z717wExwN1mChOQ/streams

AGENDA

I. OPENING ITEMS

A. Call to Order

B. Roll Call and Quorum

C. Pledge of Allegiance and Reading of Mission Statement

D. Agenda Order and Approval/Revision

E. Recommendations and Commendations

F. Highlight on Youth- February

G. Student Representative Communications

H. Community Communications

I. Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Month Ended January 2023

J. Monthly Employment Report (January 2023)

II. CONSENT AGENDA

Recommendations for Regular Board Meeting on February 13, 2023:

 

A.  Action to Approve the Consent Agenda, as presented:

 

1.  Minutes - That the board approves the following minutes, as presented:

         a) Regular Board Meeting of January 9, 2023

         b) Special Board Meeting of January 23, 2023

 

2.  Financial Reports - That the board approves general fund checks in the amount of $2,275,946.71 and cash receipts in the amount of $4,771,569.76 for January 2023, as presented.

 

3.  Donations - That the board approves donations exceeding $1,000 for the month of January 2023, as presented:

• $1,025 from Culvers Art Night for Art Departments (classroom supplies)
• $1,000 from Menomonie Rotary Club for MHS Activities (sponsorships)
• $4,520 from the AnnMarie Foundation:
  • $1,970 - Vernier sensors, springs, cart and photogates, secured by Nathan McMahon, MHS Science Department
  • $1,050 - Echo pens and notebooks, secured by Jill Zydowsky, MHS Special Education Department
  • $1,500 - Play scripts and performance rights, secured by Jean Enyeart, MMS Drama Department
• $2,305 in donations from Wakanda Elementary 5th grade Ranger Night (field trips)

Staffing Plan Expansion for MHS Van Driver, as presented.

A. Action to Approve Consent Agenda

1. Minutes of a Regular Meeting of January 9, 2023

2. Minutes of a Special Meeting of January 23, 2023

3. Financial Reports for January 2023

4. Donations Exceeding $1,000 for January 2023

5. Staffing Plan Expansion for MHS Van Driver

The consent agenda was approved 9-0.

III. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA

A. Action to Approve Personnel Consent Agenda

1. Resignations/Retirements

2. Requests to Hire

Recommendations for the Regular Board Meeting on February 13, 2023:

 

A.   Action to Approve Personnel Actions

 

      Motion to approve the following personnel actions, as presented:

 

     1.  Resignations/Retirements: 

• Retirement of Nancy Horner, Counselor at Menomonie Middle School, effective the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

 

     2.  Request to Hire:  None at time of publication.

Approved 9-0.

V. ACTION AGENDA

A. Approve Make Up Plan for Winter Weather Cancellations

Plan for Making up Days due to Weather Cancellations

• December 14-15 - These days will not be made up by students, teachers, or school-year hourly staff. We have built two days into the school calendar that will be applied to these days.
• December 22 - Since we have enough instructional minutes built into our calendar to cover these days, students will not be required to make up these two days. Teachers and school-year hourly staff will be provided a make up option.
• January 4 (Late Start) - Since we have enough instructional minutes built into our calendar to cover these days, students will not be required to make up these two days. Teachers and school-year hourly staff will be provided a make up option.
• January 11 - Since we have enough instructional minutes built into our calendar to cover these days, students will not be required to make up these two days. Teachers and school-year hourly staff will be provided a make up option.
• January 19 - This day will be made up by students and school-year hourly staff on Monday, April 10. Since teachers were already scheduled for work on this date (PD day), teachers will be provided an additional opportunity to make up this day. Adding this day for students will provide additional time should an additional weather cancellation be needed.

The snow day plan was approved by the board 9-0.

V. DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW

A. Discuss Elementary Principal Staffing for 2023-2024

With the upcoming retirements of Oaklawn Elementary Principal Lori Smith and Knapp Elementary Principal Kristin Humphrey, the school district conducted a thorough search to fill these vacancies for the 2023-2024 school year. After screening all applications and considering input provided by the families and staff members at each school, internal transfer requests were approved this week for current Wakanda Elementary Principal Shannon Branch to become the next principal at Knapp, and for current Downsville Elementary Principal Keila Drout to become the next principal at Oaklawn. Mrs. Branch and Mrs. Drout will begin their new positions on July 1, 2023.

 

In order to find the best candidates to fill the principal vacancies at Wakanda and Downsville, a new search process and timeline has been established. The vacancies will be posted on statewide networks, input will be solicited from the families and staff members from each school, and it is anticipated that hiring recommendations will be ready for consideration by the school board by the end of March. After the hiring process has been completed, transition activities will begin at each of the schools impacted by these changes next school year. Opportunities for community and staff "Meet & Greet" sessions with each new building principal will be offered in the spring.

 

Questions about the principal search process can be directed to me or SDMA Director of Human Resources Samantha Hoyt.

B. Student Enrollment Update (Second Friday in January Count)

C. Review Curriculum Transparency

D. Discuss 2023-2024 Preliminary Budget Estimate

E. Discuss SDMA Intervention Programming

F. Discuss Compensation Plans

In alignment with the attached action plan and timeline, the school board will continue discussions related to staff compensation for the 2023-2024 school year.

 

While work continues in the study of hourly comparables, the attached summary report from the most recent information available on the DPI website demonstrates how average teacher salaries in the SDMA compare to other schools in the Big Rivers Conference. As can been seen the report, the SDMA remains very competitive with average teacher pay per years of experience. It is important to recognize, however, that this report is based on averages which do not reflect the compensation for any particular teacher.

 

For Board member reference, the teacher and hourly pay scales are attached.  This information is also available in the SDMA Employee Handbook.

G. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports

VI. ADJOURNMENT

A. Action to Adjourn

The agenda as noted above was posted more than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting date. The most up-todate agenda information is available on the district website. This agenda is posted at the Menomonie Area School District Administrative Services Center, and on the district website at www.sdmanonline.com under the School Board link